Whether you are buying a new project or working on an existing project, consider the practicality and dependability before you start spending your hard earned money! There are pros and cons to every decision making process, but the key is not to waste time & money on something that may change. There are many subjects of discussion but the 2 major decidng points in the beginning of your decision making process are:
| ORIGINAL | NOT ORIGINAL |
From this point, what does original mean? If no concern, skip to the next step.
Step: Define Original
Are you THINKING ......
Absolute Original - no modifications. IS as was! Concours type restoration.
Safety Modifications Only - seat belts, dual master cylinder, tires
Drive-ability - ignition and/or generator conversions, factory disc brake upgrade, etc
Perception - As long as it looks ORIGINAL
No Permanent Modifications - everything can be returned to stock
Each of these decision points have an affect on the safety, drive-ability, dependability and all around general use of the automobile. Decide NOW, before moving on to other decisions points in the next steps.
Step: Not Original
This step makes decisions much easier, but now we have budget, needs, wants & desires to contend with in addition to any carry-overs from the original category. AN example can be you still want drive-ability and safety in addition to that supercharged Hemi.
Step: Review Technology
There are a lot of choices you can make but understanding WHY you are making the choice makes sense.
Brake systems - Cars prior to 1967 had a single reservoir master cylinder. As of 1967, Federal law mandated all cars produced after 1966 should have a dual reservoir master cylinder, emergency flashers, and seat belts. Beyond the master cylinder, disc brakes proved to be superior over drum brakes, especially in the front where most of the braking is done. There are simple factory conversion kits that make your car safe or you can spend serious money on cool stuff with superior stopping power you may never need or use.
Safety Belts and Harness - as stated above, vehicles beginning with the 1967 model year were required to have safety belts and somehwere in 70's that was upgraded to the harness style we have today. It should be noted that belts were some times an option before 1967. Any type of these belts are available, but keep in mind that shoulder harnesses need a secure, high mounting point for that type of belt.
Ignition System -Until the late 1960's, most cars used "points" or breakers to trigger the ignition. It was a mechanical and generally un-reliable method that became obsolete with the advent of electronic ignition. The need for a tune-up every 6 months went away with new technology. Today, ignition systems can function reliably for 100,000 miles or more compared to 10,000 miles at best with points. Electronic ignition adds reliability to your car. You can purchase anything from simple stock looking kits to exotic MSD style electronic kits for your car.
Fuel Systems - This is tough subject, but, a lot has changed over the years with fuels that are available and what they are designed for. Simply put, today's fuels are designed for fuel injected cars. In the last 8 or 9 years, the carburetor has gone the way of the do-do bird. They are simply inefficient. Worse yet, the fuels today are not designed to work with carburetors. It is true that they work, but, there are problems that arise dealing with carburetors on a daily basis.
Some common carburetor problems are:
Hard re-start after hot-soak (turn off the car, wait 10 minutes). This is because fuel dumps from the carb and floods the engine.
Poor cold performance - carbs had chokes. You had to push the pedal down once, start the car, and warm-up performance was marginal at best.
Sticking Needle & Seat and Floats - This is a common problem with carbs. If the fuel control valve sticks (needle & seat), you have a fire hazard on your hands. Fuel will keep pumping and leak everywhere. This is a very common problem and if you don't know the symptoms, you can lose your investment.
Vent Problems (gas smell) - Older cars (pre-1970) had venting issues. Most vents dumped fumes under the car somewhere. Charcoal canisters & closed vapor systems were added in the 1970's, but carbs were different for these systems.
Fuel Types - Today's fuel systems are pressurized and the expansion characteristics of the fuel is different than it was 15 or 20 years ago. In addition, Ethanol has been added to most fuels that can deteriorate seals, ruin carburetors, and in severe cases bend pushrods and cause internal engine damage.
Consider Fuel Injection
Carbs are expensive and today, there are many fuel injection kits you can purchase that may cost a little more to install, but pay off handsomely in the reliability and dependability department. If you even think you might consider fuel injection, don't buy that carb!
Step: Formulate you plan
This is where you throw in the bells & whistles like keyless entry, power windows, air conditioning, wheels, custom paint, electrical system upgrades, etc.
It is now time to start shopping for estimates, putting together time-lines and budgets.
The #1 Rule is; 'DON'T DO IT TWICE!'
Copyright 2019 Rick Rossi / Moparresto You may copy and/or forward this document in it's entirety only.